Improvement in stop-motions for knitting-machines



UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

MARK LEE, OF NEEDHAM, MASSACHUSETTS.

IMPROVEMENT IN STOP-MOTIONS FOR KNlTTlNG-MACHINES.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 50,012, dated September 19, 1865.

o all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, MARK LEE, of Needham, in the county of Norfolk and state of Massachusetts, have invented a new and Improved Stop-Motion for Machines for Making Knitted Cloth; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full and exact description thereof, reference bein g had to the accom panying drawings, making a part of this specification- Figure l being a side elevation of the iinproved stop-motion in running order 5 Fig. 2, a side elevation showing its operation when a knot or unevenness appears in the yarn, Fig. 3, a side elevation showing its operation when the yarn breaks or when the bobbin runs ont; Fig. 4, a top view of the dropper or bar H; Fig. 5, an oblique view of the bar E E, together with the yarn-scraper F.

Like letters designate corresponding parts in all the figures.

I provide an upright stand, A, with an arched top, R, at the end ot' which is a hook, C, through which the yarn B B passes on its way from the bobbin D to the loom or machine. At the point a on this upright stand I hang the bar E E in such a manner as to turnupon the point ci. This bar, by means of a rubber Washer at the point a, is held in the position represented in Fig. 1, unless some force is applied that turns it. At the end of this bar, next the yarn, I' provide a yarn-scraper, F, which consists of a thin piece of steel or iron, with a slot in it sufficiently wide to admit of the free passage of yarn ot the size desired to be used. The other end of this baris connected at the point h with the bar K by means of the wire P, which passes through the hole l in the bar K, and is bent, thus forming a shoulder upon the under side. By this arrangement the bar K when raised does not raise the Wire P, but'the wire P when raised always raises the bar K.

At the point b on the upright A, I fasten the stand I, on which, at the point c, I hangthe dropper or` bar H in such a manner as to turn freely upon the point c. I make the part of this dropper or bar from c to d longer, and, consequently, heavier than the part from c to g. It is held in the position represented in Figs. l and'2 by the yarn, against which it leans at the point d, the yarn being drawn in so as the better to support it by passing at the point e, inside of the curved wire G, which is attached to the stand I, and serves also at the point n to guide the yarn into the yarn-scraper F, as well as (together with the rubber washer at the point a) to prevent the weight of the Wire P from changing the position of the bar E E. This dropper or bar H is connected at the point g with the bar K by the wire O in the same manner as the bar E E is connected by the .Wire P. The bar K is hung so as to turn freely upon the point m. At one end of this bar I hang a thin piece of steel or iron, L, joined to it by the hinge o. The other end of this bnr rests upon the support U and is sufficiently heavy to retain the bar in the position represented in Fig. 1. This machine is usually made of iron, but may be made of other materials. Thus constructed, it Works obviously as f'ollows, viz:

Whenever a knot or unevenness appears in the yarn it will not pass through the slot in the yarn-scraperF, but, catching, turns the bar E E until it occupies the position represented in Fig. 2, which, by means of the connecting- Wire P, turns the bar K so as to throw the piece of steel or iron L down into the position represented in Figs. 2 and 3, and whenever the piece of steel or iron L is thrown into this position the belt (by an arrangement not desired to be secured by these Letters Patent) is shipped from the driving to the loose pulley, and so the loom or machine is stopped before the knot or unevenness can get into it to do any harm to the needles. Again, whenever the yarn on the bobbin runs out or breaks, the

dropper or bar H which is supported by the yarn at the point d, falls into the position represented in Fig. 3, which, by means of the wire O, turns the bar K so as to throw the piece of steel or iron L down into the position represented in Figs. 2 and 3', and so, by the ararrangement before mentioned, the loom or machine is stopped.

The great advantage of thisinvention is twofold: First, it prevents knots or unevenness in the yarn from breaking the needles or otherwise injuring the loom or machine by stopping it before they can get into it; and, secondly, whenever the yarn breaks or runs out it prevents the fabric from being knit off by stopping the loom or machine while there is yet some yarn left to be woven, and at the same time prevents the damage which would result from allowing the loom or machine to run on without any yarn in it to weave. Its value is enhanced by its simplicity, its cheapness, and, at the same time, its effectiveness in accomplishing the desired result, together with its susceptibility of being readily adapted to any knitting loom or machine.

What I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

The improved stop-motion composed of the 

